Create, Cultivate, & Do: Robin Arzon

We're natural born creators and cultivators, which means we're always on the move. Doing what we love, doing what we need to get to that next step, and doing what we can to help others.

That's why when Sara Haile, creator of People Who Do reached out to collaborate on a series celebrating those "who do," we were totally game. We continue the series with lawyer-turned-athlete and co-founder of Undo Ordinary magazine, Robin Arzon. Get to know the powerhouse below. —PC 

People Who Do: Robin Arzon

by Sara Haile

Name, username, craft(s): Robin Arzon

Street athlete, former lawyer turned ambassador of sweat, Head instructor at Peloton, Co-founder of UNDOORDINARY.

To date, what accomplishments (of any kind) are you most proud of?

There are honestly so many and I’m really proud to say that. I was a corporate lawyer for seven years, I just trekked through the Serengeti with nothing but a machete, I survived being held hostage, I run over 100 miles a week. I mean, if we’re not doing things to make us proud I think we have an obligation to re-create ourselves. Thankfully my list continues to grow.

Your motivating mantra to get through tough moments: 

That’s a good question. The mantra I use most regularly is “I am.” I use that a lot when I’m running. 

What’s your favorite thing you’ve learned so far this year?

Probably that survival is really an innate instinct and that we’re always capable of a little bit more. 

What’s your favorite lesson you’ve ever learned, ever?

To take ownership of your scars. I think taking ownership of our flaws and things that have maybe dinged us throughout the way is a better approach.

What's your go-to song to put you in a better mood?

Hip-hop is my thing. If I had to pick one album it would be Wu Tang Clan's "36 Chambers," and as for an artist and song, Beyoncé's “Upgrade You.”

Favorite method for logging any kind of inspiration: 

My social media platforms, mostly Instagram.  

You lead such amazingly creative and forward-thinking projects that have a great following within the digital space. What’s the biggest thrill that you get from them?

The biggest thrill I get from leading a public life as an athlete is seeing the look in other people when they realize that they can do it too. I find that there’s something really powerful about the community of athletes who have arisen in the past five years, which is based on regular people doing extraordinary things. I see that all the time in my riders and runners and people who train with me, and the biggest thrill of leading that life publicly is watching people individually grasp that narrative too. I respect people who put inspiration into action because I otherwise don’t really see the point of any of these kind of hash-taggy social media things. If you’re not bringing it into your own life and doing something to tell your own story, then that’s a real shame…

"put inspiration into action."

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What is one thing that is so satisfying in your career that you wouldn't be able to do if you had chosen another career path? 

I was a lawyer for a long time and I’m certain that I wouldn’t be able to push and pull my own body weight like I do now if I hadn’t chosen to become an athlete. That’s different from being physically fit and more about owning your space in the world. 

Three words that you want to be remembered by:

Do epic shit.

What’s the next goal?

I'm writing my book right now which will be published next summer, and I’m really excited about my documentary, Run It Out. My next goal as an athlete is to do my first triathlon, and then I plan on running across the whole country soon.

By "do-ing", you create your own unique legacy. What do you want that to be? 

I would hope that my legacy is seen through the lens of strength. I think that I am someone who believes in writing really powerful stories with how we move and act and think, and I hope my legacy is one that inspires people to do that in their own life. 

See more (and more of Robin) at People Who Do. And stayed tuned for more from PWD on C+C in the coming weeks. 

Freelance photographer Sara Haile has always seen the importance of pursuing creative ideas of any kind. She created People Who Do to highlight the importance of balancing creativity with motion, and to show a deep appreciation for the motivation it takes to show up and excel at your craft. 

Meet the Sponsor: Why Wearable Tech Matters for Women

Suzanne EL-Moursi was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt where she was inspired by the experiences, people, and places she encountered. She had a keen interest in the intersection of technology and design and now, as creative director for smart jewelry brand Mira, Suzanne has led the brand’s successful redesign and is building a creative team comprised of content strategists, editors, UX designers and industrial designers, all passionate about women’s wellness and empowerment to live healthier lives. She's also a full-time mother and fashion enthusiast and we're thrilled she's found the time to come speak about her experience as a speaker and sponsor at #createcultivateCHI! Read on to learn more about Mira and this wonder woman behind the brand.
 

Mira is creating a line of wearable tech specifically for women. How does your product differ from offerings already in the market today?

Suzanne: We sought to create a product particularly for women because it’s important that technology fits in with her life and addresses the unique challenges she faces to fit more activity into her day. We’re creating a line of modular smart jewelry that’s versatile and beautiful. We’re looking to design products that can be taken apart, paired with different form factors, and offering customers the opportunity to make something their own. Our product is not one-size-fits-all. It comes in three different sizes and two colors that can fit a variety of styles, body types, skin tones, and lifestyles. We want our customer to have color options to keep it fresh. Our app is also unique in its friendly, approachable voice and tone because we believe it’s important to be a partner in the wellness journey.

Why are women-focused tech products important?

Women are completely under-served in the wearables category.  We’ve found that women are willing to invest in products that are versatile and beautiful and that’s why, at Mira, we’re thinking about wearables as an accessory for her wardrobe, not just a fitness tracker that counts steps. Other companies aren’t connecting the dots that wellness doesn’t just mean fitness, and that it has to work with your personal style, too. It shouldn’t just be about marketing products to women by making the band pink. Smartwatches with large faces, or activity trackers with rubber bands, don’t accommodate smaller wrists and indicate that the devices were designed by teams of men with men in mind. At the same time, women still want to be able to see a display. To address this, we’re designing smart jewelry that really works for women throughout her whole day, from the office to the gym to date night. We believe that for our product to cause a change in behavior and help her add more activity to her busy life, she needs to be capturing the entire picture of her day.
 

Mira has done a lot of research to inform its design, have you been surprised by any of the findings?

Every woman is different—so we are never done asking women what they want in their smart jewelry. Across the board, women care about their health and we want to honor that with a product that helps them reach those goals. It’s not just about fitness or weight loss, it’s about the whole wellness picture. We’re also finding that community is a really important aspect to women in their journey. They want to share and support each other and celebrate their accomplishments.

What health and wellness challenges is Mira solving?

We all have unique wellness goals, but the challenges—finding time between all the other priorities—are the same. Whether you’re interested in daily step count or calorie burn or a yogi or a runner, our app is designed to fit into your daily life. Our tracker can be removed from the bracelet and clipped to clothing for times when the bracelet isn’t ideal. The more you wear Mira, the more our app gets to know you and understand your habits so that it can deliver targeted, personalized insights and “boosts” to help you increase your activity level. Our research has shown that most women are looking for fresh ideas to mix up their daily routines, the content within our app gives specific tips on how you can keep reaching your goals.

We also really want to change the dialogue around women’s wellness, and what it means to be healthy. There are few companies out there celebrating various body shapes and sizes, so we’re trying to disrupt the body negativity mindset and use content to inspire and empower women to feel their best.

How has working for Mira affected your personal wellness routines?

I get up every morning really excited to come into work, and I believe that loving what you do is part of the wellness equation. I’ve also found that my personal wellness is very much tied to the people I work with and to family and friends. You need people in your life that support you on your journey. Everyone at Mira approaches their wellness differently and it’s exciting to see our diverse team really excited about encouraging others in their wellness journey.

Catch Suzanne in conversation at #createcultivateCHI on our panel: Launchpad — How to Launch Your Business, Create Community and Stay Relevant in the Modern Marketplace + learn more about Mira at mymirafit.com.

post sponsored by Mira